Disc cartridge

ABSTRACT

A disc cartridge for receiving a disc-like recording medium therewithin which recording medium is capable of being inserted and removed from the disc cartridge. The disc cartridge includes an insertion and removal port opening and closing member, and the disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member is moved from the disc cartridge when taking out the recording medium. The disc cartridge has a locking member for locking the insertion and removal port opening and closing member. At least a part of a locking cancellation preventing member which prevents the locking member from moving for canceling the locking is arranged on a moving path of the locking member so as to cancel the locking. Further, the locking cancellation preventing member is a portion for recognizing a history of insertion and removal of the recording medium.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a disc cartridge which receivesa disc-like recording medium such as an optical disc, a photomagneticdisc and the like therewithin.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Conventionally, the discs such as the optical disc and the likeare used for a disc-like recording medium- These discs are frequentlyused in a state of being received within the disc cartridge for thepurpose of preventing a recording or reproducing error due to anattachment of oils and fats on a recording surface thereof.

[0005] In this case, the disc-like recording medium is structured suchthat in the case that a recording density is fixed, a recording capacityof course becomes greater as a diameter thereof becomes greater. On thecontrary, in the case of using the disc-like recording medium mentionedabove as a recording medium for a portable recording and reproducingapparatus, for example, a video camera and the like, a compact disc isexcellent in portability. Accordingly, there is a case that the discused for a portable apparatus has a different diameter from the discused for a stationary apparatus. At this time, a small-sized disccartridge is of course used for a disc cartridge used for the portabledisc. In the case that a recording method is the same and only a shapeof the disc is different, if it is possible to mount the disc to therecording and reproducing apparatus, it is possible to record orreproduce by means of recording and reproducing means provided in therecording and reproducing apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to recordand reproduce the disc used for the portable apparatus in the stationaryrecording and reproducing apparatus by taking out only the disc from thecompact disc cartridge and replacing in the disc cartridge having thesame outer shape as that of the disc cartridge in the stationaryapparatus.

[0006] Further, in an optical disc, a recording operation is sensitiveto a dirt and a reproducing operation is relatively strong to a dirt, sothat in the case of performing only a reproducing operation withoutagain performing a recording operation in the once recorded disc, thereexists a system in which a disc is taken out from the disc cartridge andonly the disc can be treated.

[0007] Because of the reasons mentioned above, there is a requirement ofinserting and removing the disc with respect to the disc cartridge. As astructure of taking out the disc from the disc cartridge, for example,there is a method of arranging a disc insertion and removal portion in apart of the disc cartridge as shown in Japanese Patent UnexaminedPublication No. 5-242626.

[0008] A description will be given of a structure for taking out thedisc from the disc cartridge in accordance with the 25 conventional artwith reference to FIG. 9. A disc insertion and removal port 12 isprovided on a surface opposite to a surface on which a shutter 3 isarranged, and a disc insertion and removal port opening and closingmember 10 e is arranged there. Normally, the disc insertion and removalport opening and closing member 10 e is structured such that a lockinghook 6 e is fitted to a locking hole 7 e arranged in the disc cartridgeand the disc insertion and removal port 12 is closed. At a time oftaking out a disc 4, the locking hook 6 e is removed from the lockinghole 7 e and the disc insertion and removal port opening, closing member10 e is rotated around a rotational support point 8 e and the discinsertion and removal port 12 is opened, so that the disc 4 is insertedand removed.

[0009] Further, another conventional embodiment is shown in FIG. 10. Inthe conventional embodiment shown in FIG. 10, a disc insertion andremoval port opening and closing member 10 f is structured such as to becapable of being taken out from the disc cartridge 1. Further, at a timeof attaching the disc insertion and removal port opening and closingmember 10 f, the disc insertion and removal port opening and closingmember 10 f is locked by a fitness between a locking hook 6 f and alocking hole 7 f, thereby preventing an erroneous falling off.

[0010] In the disc cartridge as mentioned above, in the case of usingthe disc cartridge receiving disc once taken out therewithin in therecording and/or reproducing apparatus corresponding to the cartridge,it is necessary that the apparatus detects the fact of being taken out.This is necessary for the purpose of inhibiting a recording operation ofthe disc which has been taken out to an outer portion or more frequentlyperforming a recording check since a recording operation is sensitive toa dirt in the optical disc as mentioned above. A method of detecting ahistory of taking out the disc will be described below with reference toFIG. 11. FIG. 11 shows a structure of opening and closing the discinsertion and removal port 12 by a disc insertion and removal portopening and closing member 10 i in the same manner as that of theembodiment shown in FIG. 9, thereby inserting and removing the disc. Alocking hook 6 i and a locking hole 7 i are fitted to each other and thelocking member 11 is fitted to the locking hole 9, whereby a locking ofthe disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member 10 i isperformed. When the locking hook 6 i is removed from the locking hole 7i, the locking hook 6 i is elastically deformed in an inner direction ofthe disc cartridge, so that a fitting can be again performed even afteronce removed. On the contrary, when removing the locking member 11 fromthe locking hole 9, the locking member 11 is broken out from the discinsertion and removal port opening and closing member 10 i.

[0011] When opening the disc insertion and removal port opening andclosing member 10 i, it is necessary to release these two kinds oflocking means, however, when opening the disc insertion and removal portopening and closing member 10 i, the locking member 11 becomes in abroken state, so that it is possible to recognize a history of takingout the disc by detecting the broken state.

[0012] As mentioned above, in the conventional and reference arts, whentaking out the disc from the disc cartridge, the disc takeout history isdefinitely left in the disc cartridge. However, as a purpose of takingout the disc, in addition to the case of using a simple disc exclusivelyfor reproducing the disc, there is a case of using the disc with movingthe disc between the disc cartridges. In this case, since a user doesnot positively handle the disc, there is a little possibility that adirt is attached to the disc surface. Further, it can be avoided to bedirectly in contact with the disc by closely attaching the insertion andremoval ports of the disc cartridge to each other and moving the disc,so that a dirt is not attached. Even in this case, when the disctake-out history is left, an impossible recording treatment or anexcessive recording check is performed although no dirt is attached tothe disc, so that a usability of the disc is deteriorated.

DISCLOSURE OF RELATED APPLICATION

[0013] U.S. application Ser. No. 09/233,205 discloses the use of a discholder for holding the disc and which is insertable and removable fromthe disc cartridge together with the disc. FIG. 12 shows a discinsertion and removal member in accordance with the copendingapplication, wherein a disc insertion and removal opening and closingmember 10 g is structured such as to be capable of being taken out fromthe disc cartridge 1. At a time of attaching the disc insertion andremoval port opening and closing member 10 g, the disc insertion andremoval port opening and closing member 10 g is locked by a fitnessbetween a locking hook 6 g and a locking hole 7 g. It is structured suchthat the disc 4 can be taken out of the disc cartridge 1 by a discauxiliary member 2 which changes and holds the disc as described in thecopending application and is arranged in the disc insertion and removalport opening and closing member 10 g at a time of taking out the discinsertion and removal opening and closing member 10 g.

[0014]FIG. 13 illustrates another form of a disc holding member whereina disc insertion and removal opening and closing member 10 h isstructured such as to be capable of being taken out from the disccartridge 1. At a time of attaching the disc insertion and removal portopening and closing member 10 h, the disc insertion and removal portopening and closing member 10 h is locked by a fitness between a lockinghook 6 h and a locking hole 7 h. It is structured such that the disc 4can be taken out of the disc cartridge 1 in a state of being held by adisc holding member 5 which is a variation of the disc auxiliary member2 and is arranged in the disc insertion and removal port opening andclosing member 10 h when taking out the disc insertion and removalopening and closing member 10 h.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] An object of the present invention is to provide a disc cartridgestructured such that a history of taking out a disc is left in the disccartridge in the case of taking out the disc for the purpose of usingthe simple disc and is not left in the disc cartridge in the case that ause does not positively handle the disc such as a movement of the discbetween the disc cartridges.

[0016] In order to achieve the object, in accordance with the presentinvention, there is provided a disc cartridge in which a disc insertionand removal port can be opened and closed by an insertion and removalport opening and closing member, and locking means for locking theinsertion and removal port opening and closing member when the insertionand removal port opening and closing member is closed and lockingcancellation preventing means for preventing the locking means fromcanceling the locking of the insertion and removal port opening andclosing member are arranged in the disc cartridge.

[0017] Further, the locking cancellation preventing means is formed in ashape structured such as to cover at least a part of a portion in whichthe locking means is exposed to an outer portion of the disc cartridge.

[0018] Still further, at least a part of the locking cancellationpreventing means is irreversibly displaced so as to expose at least apart of the locking means which the locking cancellation preventingmeans covers to an outer portion of the disc cartridge.

[0019] Furthermore, at least a part of the locking cancellationpreventing means is arranged on a moving path necessary for the lockingmeans to cancel the locking.

[0020] Moreover, the locking cancellation preventing means isirreversibly displaced out of the moving path from the moving path ofthe locking means and the locking means is made movable so as to cancelthe locking.

[0021] Further, the locking cancellation preventing means isirreversibly displaced out of the moving path from the moving path ofthe locking means and the locking means is moved in a state ofdisplacing the locking cancellation preventing means so as to cancel thelocking.

[0022] Still further, the history of the insertion and removal of thedisc can be recognized by detecting the state of the lockingcancellation preventing means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment in accordancewith the present invention, which shows a structure of a disc cartridge;

[0024]FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the first embodiment in accordancewith the present invention, which shows a structure of locking means andlocking cancellation preventing means of disc insertion and removal portopening and closing means;

[0025]FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the first embodiment in accordancewith the present invention, which explains a method of locking andremoving the locking means of the disc insertion and removal portopening and closing means without breaking the locking cancellationpreventing means;

[0026]FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a second embodiment in accordancewith the present invention, which shows a structure of a disc cartridge;

[0027]FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the second embodiment in accordancewith the present invention, which shows a structure of locking means andlocking cancellation preventing means of disc insertion and removal portopening and closing means;

[0028]FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the second embodiment in accordancewith the present invention, which explains a method of locking andremoving the locking means of the disc insertion and removal portopening and closing means without breaking the locking cancellationpreventing means;

[0029]FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a third embodiment in accordancewith the present invention, which shows a structure of locking means andlocking cancellation preventing means of disc insertion and removal portopening and closing means;

[0030]FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the third embodiment in accordancewith the present invention, which explains a method of locking andremoving the locking means of the disc insertion and removal portopening and closing means without breaking the locking cancellationpreventing means;

[0031]FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a conventional art, which shows astructure of inserting and removing a disc in a disc cartridge;

[0032]FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a conventional art, which shows astructure of inserting and removing a disc in a disc cartridge;

[0033]FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a conventional art, which shows astructure of a history of taking out a disc in a disc cartridge;

[0034]FIG. 12 is a schematic view in accordance with the disclosure ofthe copending application, which shows a structure of inserting andremoving a disc in a disc cartridge; and

[0035]FIG. 13 is a schematic view in accordance with the disclosure ofthe copending application, which shows a structure of inserting andremoving a disc in a disc cartridge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0036] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention will bedescribed below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

[0037] A first embodiment in accordance with the present invention willbe described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a schematicview which shows an internal structure of a disc cartridge in accordancewith the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1,a disc cartridge I is provided with a disc insertion and removal portthrough which a disc 4 passes when inserting and removing the disc 4.When the disc cartridge 1 receives the disc 4 therewithin, a discinsertion and removal port opening and closing member 10 a is locked tothe disc insertion and removal port 12 by locking means.

[0038] The locking means in accordance with the present embodiment isconstituted by a locking hook 6 a and a locking hole 7 a and isstructured such that the locking hook 6 a is fitted to the locking hole7 a, thereby being locked. In this case, the locking hole 7 a isstructured such as not to pass through, and such that it is impossibleto cancel the locking from an outer portion of the disc cartridge 1through the locking hole 7 a.

[0039] In FIG. 2, a locking state of the locking means and a method ofcanceling the locking will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic viewwhich shows details of a locking cancellation preventing member 16 acorresponding to the locking means and the locking cancellationpreventing means. When the disc insertion and removal port opening andclosing member 10 is attached to the disc cartridge 1, the locking hook6 a is fitted and locked to the locking hole 7 a as shown in FIG. 2A.Further, since the locking cancellation preventing member 16 a isarranged in a lower portion of the locking hook 6 a, the locking hook 6a is hardly exposed to an outer portion, so that it is hard for a userof the disc cartridge to take out the locking hook 6 a from the lockinghole 7 a in this state. When the user takes out the disc from the disccartridge 1 for the purpose of using the disc as a single one, thelocking cancellation preventing member 16 a is broken as shown in FIG.2B. The locking hook 6 a is exposed to an outer portion by breaking thelocking cancellation preventing member 16 a so as to take out, so thatit is possible to remove the locking hook 6 a. In this case, thetake-out history is recognized by detecting the breakage of the lockingcancellation preventing member 16 a. Further, in the case that it is notdesired to mark the disc take-out history such as a movement of the discbetween the disc cartridges, the disc is taken out by removing thelocking hook 6 a without breaking the locking cancellation preventingmember 16 a as shown in FIG. 2C.

[0040] A description will be given of a method of removing the lockinghook 6 a without breaking the locking cancellation preventing member 16a with reference to FIG. 3. An opening portion 19 a which is smallenough that the user can not operate the locking hook 6 a by a finger isprovided between the locking cancellation preventing member 16 a and thedisc cartridge 1. The locking hook 6 a is moved by inserting the lockingcancellation member 18 a from the opening portion 19 a, as shown in FIG.3B, thereby being removed from the locking hole 7 a. A lockingcancellation member 18 a is, for example, provided near the discinsertion and removal portion of the disc cartridge in a destination forthe disc, so that a cancellation of the locking and a moving operationof the disc can be both performed by pressing the disc cartridge 1 inaccordance with the present invention.

[0041] Next, a second embodiment in accordance with the presentinvention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. FIG. 4is a schematic view which shows a structure of a disc cartridge inaccordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. Thepresent embodiment has the disc insertion and removal port 12 in thesame manner as that of the first embodiment, and when the disc cartridgeI receives the disc 4 therewithin, a disc insertion and removal portopening and closing member 10 j is locked to the disc insertion andremoval port 12 by locking means. The locking means in accordance withthe present embodiment is also constituted by a locking hook 6 j and alocking hole 7 j, and the locking hook 6 j is fitted to the locking hole7 j so as to be locked. Further, in the case of the disc cartridge whichhas not taken out the disc, the structure is made such that the disccartridge 1 and the locking cancellation preventing member 16 j coveralmost all of the member having the locking hook 6 j. In this case, thelocking hole 7 j is not penetrated, so that it is structured such thatit is impossible to cancel the locking by inserting into the lockinghole 7 j from the outer portion of the disc cartridge 1.

[0042] A description will be given of a locking state of the lockingmeans and a method of canceling the locking with reference to FIG. 5.FIG. 5 is a schematic view which shows a detail of the lockingcancellation preventing member 16 j corresponding to the locking meansand the locking cancellation preventing means. Left views in FIGS. 5A to5C are outside drawings near a portion in which the locking cancellationpreventing member 16 j is arranged, and right views show an innerstructure thereof. When the disc insertion and removal port opening andclosing member 10 j is attached to the disc cartridge 1, the lockinghook 6 j is fitted and locked to the locking hole 7 j as shown in FIG.5A. Further, since the disc cartridge 1 and the locking cancellationpreventing member 16 j cover almost all of the surface in the memberhaving the locking hook 6 j, it is hard for the user of the disccartridge to remove the locking hook 6 j from the locking hole 7 j. Inorder that the user uses the disc as a single unit, it is necessary tobreak the locking cancellation preventing member 16 j, expose a lowerportion of the member having the locking hook 6 j to an outer portionand displace the portion in a direction of an arrow so as to take outthe locking hook 6 j, as shown in FIG. 5B. In this case, the discapparatus recognizes the disc take-out history of the disc cartridge 1by detecting the breakage of the locking cancellation preventing member16 j. Further, in the case that it is not desired to mark the disctake-out history such as a movement of the disc between the disccartridges, the disc is taken out by removing the locking hook 6 jwithout breaking the locking cancellation preventing member 16 j asshown in FIG. 5C.

[0043] Next, a description will be given of a method of removing thelocking hook 6 j without breaking the locking cancellation preventingmember 16 j with reference to FIG. 6. An opening portion 19 j which issmall enough that the user can not operate the locking hook 6 j by afinger is provided between the locking cancellation preventing member 16j and the disc cartridge 1. The locking hook 6 j is moved by insertingthe locking cancellation member 18 j from the opening portion 19 a, asshown in FIG. 6B, thereby being removed from the locking hole 7 j. Alocking cancellation member 18 j is, for example, provided within thedisc cartridge in a destination for the disc, so that the disc is movedby moving the locking cancellation preventing member 18 j and cancelingthe locking after pressing the disc cartridge 1 in accordance with thepresent invention. Further, in the case of the present embodiment, as isdifferent from the first embodiment, the locking cancellation preventingmember 16 j is exposed to a front surface of the disc cartridge or aback surface thereof. Accordingly, it is possible to detect the take-outhistory from the surface of the disc cartridge 1 or the back surfacethereof, so that it is possible to increase a freedom in designing anarrangement of a sensor in the side of the disc apparatus.

[0044] Next, a third embodiment in accordance with the present inventionwill be described below with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is aschematic view which shows a locking state of locking means and a methodof canceling the locking in accordance with the third embodiment of thepresent invention. The locking hook 6 b is fitted to the locking hole 7b so as to perform the locking in the same manner as that of the firstembodiment. Further, in order to take out the locking hook 6 b from thelocking hole 7 b, it is necessary to move in an inner direction of thedisc cartridge 1, however, a locking cancellation preventing member 16 bis arranged on the moving path. In this state, the locking hook 6 b isinterfered with the locking cancellation preventing member 16 b and cannot be moved, so that the locking can not be canceled. When taking outthe disc from the disc cartridge 1 in order that the user uses the discas a single unit, the locking cancellation preventing member 16 b isbroken as shown in FIG. 7B. the locking hook 6 b can be moved bybreaking the locking cancellation preventing member 16 b so as to takeout, so that it is possible to take out the locking hook 6 b. In thiscase, the disc apparatus recognizes the disc take-out history bydetecting the breakage of the locking cancellation preventing member 16b. Further, in the case that it is not desired to mark the disc take-outhistory such as a movement of the disc between the disc cartridges, thelocking cancellation is performed by elastically deforming the lockingcancellation preventing member 16 b and moving the locking hook 6 b inthis state, as shown in FIG. 7C.

[0045] A description will be given of a method of taking out the lockinghook 6 b while deforming the locking cancellation preventing member 16 bwith reference to FIG. 8. It is necessary that a deformation of thelocking cancellation preventing member 16 b and a movement of thelocking hook 6 b are performed substantially at the same time.Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8A, by pressing a locking cancellationmember 18 b having a fork-like front end portion to the locking hook 6 band the locking cancellation preventing member 16 b, it is possible tomove the locking hook 6 b while deforming the locking cancellationpreventing member 16 b as shown in FIG. 8B so as to be taken out fromthe locking hole 7 b. The locking cancellation member 18 b is, forexample, provided near a disc insertion and removal port of the disccartridge in a destination for the disc, and a cancellation of thelocking and a moving operation of the disc can be both performed bypressing the disc cartridge 1 in accordance with the present invention.

[0046] As mentioned above, the present invention can provide the disccartridge structured such that a history of taking out the disc is leftin the disc cartridge in the case that the user takes out the disc anduses the disc as a single unit, and a history of taking out the disc isnot left in the disc cartridge in a state that the user does notpositively perform a handling of the disc such as a movement of the discbetween the disc cartridges.

[0047] In accordance with the structure mentioned above, in the casethat the user takes out the disc and uses the disc as a single unit, ahistory of taking out the disc is left in the disc cartridge, and in astate that the user does not positively perform a handling of the discsuch as a movement of the disc between the disc cartridges, a history oftaking out the disc is not left in the disc cartridge.

What is claimed is:
 1. A disc cartridge for receiving a disc-likerecording medium therewithin, comprising: said recording medium which isinsertable and removable from said disc cartridge, said disc cartridgehaving an insertion and removal port opening and closing member; andsaid disc insertion and removal port opening and closing member beingmoved from said disc cartridge when taking out said recording medium;wherein said disc cartridge has a locking member for locking saidinsertion and removal port opening and closing member; wherein at leasta part of a locking cancellation preventing member which prevents saidlocking member from moving for canceling the locking is arranged on amoving path of said locking member so as to cancel the locking; andwherein said locking cancellation preventing member is a portion forrecognizing a history of insertion and removal of said recording medium.2. A disc cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said lockingcancellation preventing member is irreversibly displaced out of saidmoving path of said locking member and the locking is canceled by movingsaid locking member.
 3. A disc cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , whereinthe history of the insertion and removal of said recording medium isrecognizable by detecting the state of said locking cancellationpreventing member.
 4. A disc cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , whereinsaid locking cancellation preventing member is irreversibly displacedout of said moving path of said locking member and said locking memberis made movable so as to cancel the locking and recognition of thehistory of the insertion and removal of said recording medium.
 5. A disccartridge as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said moving path of saidlocking member is a required moving path of said locking member.